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PS Mommy Thread-Newborn to 12 months!

Date: 4/20/2010 5:05:13 PM
Author: Mara
Date: 4/20/2010 4:43:54 PM

Author: Hudson_Hawk



Date: 4/20/2010 4:28:35 PM

Author: Mara



Date: 4/20/2010 2:55:23 PM


Author: Hudson_Hawk



um...blame ignorance of mommyhood here, but is this legal?


haha is this like 'mara what is the diff between your belly and your stomach'... you must just love my cryptic word choices, huh HH??!



no worries re ignorance of strange baby-sleeping ways, you will know soon enough
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...BUTTTTT i'll fill you in. the miracle blanket comes with two inside arm flaps and you can put them under the baby, or wrap the arm in it then go under the body or use it to leave one arm out etc. G put the straps around his arms and under him which i have seen online but my friend showed me differently (aka not as effectively). it really does look like a baby straightjacket. youtube has great videos.



as for legality, consult Dr. Google and let me know what you find....laws related to swaddling would be unique for sure. and be sure to watch the miracleblanket.com youtube video for additional enlightenment..it'll come in handy before you know it!


Both totally legit questions! For someone who has no knowledge of the MB or swaddling in general (i.e., ME), the thought of tying a child's arms behind their back to sleep sounds pretty extreme and borderline abusive. Obviously this isn't the case (and I didn't mean to imply that was your intent). Thank you for clarifying.


Did you ever answer the belly vs stomach question? I missed that reply.

Hmmm, well IMO highlighting what I wrote and asking if doing that is legal IS implying that our intent was 'extreme and borderline abusive'.


Are you following me around picking on vocab just for fun? Mommy Brain doesn't allow me to remember if we got along before or not.


BUT for what it is worth...I have seen posts online where it sounds like they do somewhat 'tie' kids arms around their back with a blanket then swaddle them. As you soon shall see, whatever works.
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Editing due to a totally inappropriate knee jerk reactive response on my part, I apologize.
 
Date: 4/20/2010 5:50:09 PM
Author: Allison D.

Date: 4/20/2010 5:37:16 PM
Author: AmberWaves

I also wrote all in caps to agree with you- we all want what''s best for our babies, and I''ll do whatever the heck gets Piper to sleep, just like Mara and just like Mandy and Fiery and ALL of us mommies do on this thread!
I think that''s what made me respond so quickly on this, Amber. I''m just really disturbed at a recent trend I''ve noticed lately where people who don''t see things similarly somehow feel offended i.e. the whole BF/FF debacle.

One of the things I''ve most enjoyed about following this thread for such a long time now is the support it provides; ladies here are SO lucky to have such a great network, and it''s rare.

There is just no right/wrong way that works for everyone. If one person feels strongly about BF, that doesn''t mean that OTHERS who don''t BF aren''t making the right choices for THEIR children/circumstances, etc. Same with swaddling, CIO, potty training, and I''m sure every other topic under the sun.

This group has had something very rare and precious, and I just hate to see differences in approach somehow get blown into ''judgments or commentaries''. It shouldn''t - people should be able to have differences of approach/opinion without having it be construed as a judgment on one''s parenting ability.
Just wanted to say I totally agree with this!
 
I apologize if I came off as judgmental, honestly I''m not. As a soon to be mother, I''m looking for any and all information. If I ask for clarification on a statement, it''s simply that, ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION. It''s in my nature to do so in a funny somewhat sarcastic manner. So when I saw the mention of physically tying a child''s arms behind their backs, I wanted clarification. While the general practice of swaddling is a tried and true method of soothing a baby, how am I to know that this other method is OK?
 
HH-I think maybe its the term? I never used a MB but I don''t thin you actually tie their arms behind their backs. I believe, and the other moms can correct me, that you put the flaps around them and then tie the flaps under them.
 
Date: 4/20/2010 6:00:09 PM
Author: so cal girl


Date: 4/20/2010 5:50:09 PM
Author: Allison D.



Date: 4/20/2010 5:37:16 PM
Author: AmberWaves

I also wrote all in caps to agree with you- we all want what''s best for our babies, and I''ll do whatever the heck gets Piper to sleep, just like Mara and just like Mandy and Fiery and ALL of us mommies do on this thread!
I think that''s what made me respond so quickly on this, Amber. I''m just really disturbed at a recent trend I''ve noticed lately where people who don''t see things similarly somehow feel offended i.e. the whole BF/FF debacle.

One of the things I''ve most enjoyed about following this thread for such a long time now is the support it provides; ladies here are SO lucky to have such a great network, and it''s rare.

There is just no right/wrong way that works for everyone. If one person feels strongly about BF, that doesn''t mean that OTHERS who don''t BF aren''t making the right choices for THEIR children/circumstances, etc. Same with swaddling, CIO, potty training, and I''m sure every other topic under the sun.

This group has had something very rare and precious, and I just hate to see differences in approach somehow get blown into ''judgments or commentaries''. It shouldn''t - people should be able to have differences of approach/opinion without having it be construed as a judgment on one''s parenting ability.
Just wanted to say I totally agree with this!
Agree as well. This thread is very important to me as a new mom, both for the support and the amount of knowledge. And that knowledge necessarily includes differing opinions. I hope everyone here can try to remember that and not be so quick to be offended or take things out of context or assume that they are being judged.

Part of it is lack of sleep and frustration that comes from being a new mom, and part of it is our immense desire to be everything to our children and any comment that can be perceived as insinuating that a choice you make could be detrimental to your child is scary. We all want to be the best moms we can be, but as this thread can attest, so many times we feel we aren''t doing a good enough job. So throw in a sideways comment and the fear/anger/guilt comes out.

I just don''t take stuff personally. I truly believe that there are pros and cons to all of these approaches. If I "believe" in something, then I take extra care to read or pay attention to another poster that also believes those things or has experience in the situation. If I don''t "believe" or more accurately, think it won''t work for me or my son, then I still read but I don''t take to heart anything that is said and I DON''T take it personally if they have a different opinion.

So maybe let''s all try to remember that and not be so quick to ASSUME that someone is judging you or your choices.

For example, the whole BF/FF debate. Or the CIO debate. If I know that Poster X is an avid BF, then I read her posts through that filter. If I know that Poster Z is virulently opposed to CIO, but I am asking about CIO, then again I read the posts through a filter. I don''t assume that Poster X is making a comment on MY choices, but rather on the topic in genreal and what works for them. And if I think perhaps Poster Z or X says something a little extreme, well, then I give them the benefit of the doubt.

Long-winded again, sorry.
 
Thanks Fiery. It''s not the term swaddling, it was the concept of tying the arms behind the back. We restrain criminals'' arms behind their backs and supposedly it''s not comfortable. I don''t think I was out of line being concerned at the prospect of doing this to a baby.Now, using the MB and tying IT behind the back is completely different.
 
Date: 4/20/2010 6:03:43 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
I apologize if I came off as judgmental, honestly I''m not. As a soon to be mother, I''m looking for any and all information. If I ask for clarification on a statement, it''s simply that, ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION. It''s in my nature to do so in a funny somewhat sarcastic manner. So when I saw the mention of physically tying a child''s arms behind their backs, I wanted clarification. While the general practice of swaddling is a tried and true method of soothing a baby, how am I to know that this other method is OK?

You don''t actually tie their hands behind their backs! That did sound strange if you didn''t know what the MB does. It has two side flaps of fabric that looks like wings and you wind the fabric over their arm and then behind their back. So the flaps go behind the back, very tightly, and their arms are swaddled tightly against their sides. Arms are not behind their back. Plus they are sleeping on their backs so wouldn''t work even if you tried.
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Date: 4/20/2010 6:22:09 PM
Author: ChinaCat
Date: 4/20/2010 6:03:43 PM

Author: Hudson_Hawk

I apologize if I came off as judgmental, honestly I''m not. As a soon to be mother, I''m looking for any and all information. If I ask for clarification on a statement, it''s simply that, ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION. It''s in my nature to do so in a funny somewhat sarcastic manner. So when I saw the mention of physically tying a child''s arms behind their backs, I wanted clarification. While the general practice of swaddling is a tried and true method of soothing a baby, how am I to know that this other method is OK?


You don''t actually tie their hands behind their backs! That did sound strange if you didn''t know what the MB does. It has two side flaps of fabric that looks like wings and you wind the fabric over their arm and then behind their back. So the flaps go behind the back, very tightly, and their arms are swaddled tightly against their sides. Arms are not behind their back. Plus they are sleeping on their backs so wouldn''t work even if you tried.
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It would add to the level of discomfort
 
Date: 4/20/2010 5:24:37 PM
Author: phoenixgirl
So Cal and Anchor, just wanted to send moral support whatever you decide. It''s a tough decision for sure.

Mini pill . . . hmmm, maybe that''s affecting me too. DTD is still not all that comfortable or appealing. I still give it a whirl once in a while, but that''s less often now that I''m working/crazed. Or perhaps loss of libido when caring for a young baby is nature''s way of spacing your babies out?

Separation anxiety . . . I think Claire is developing it, and that''s what actually caused her to be sent home from daycare last week. Is 5.5 months (when she developed it; she''s almost 6 now) too young for that? Sometimes she''s fine, but other times she cries when I leave the room (even when she''s with DH) or cries when I show up at daycare but don''t pick her up right away. DH says she watches him when he puts her in the Bumbo at daycare and starts crying when he goes to leave. She also cries a little when she realizes I''m taking her upstairs to put her down for a nap, but she usually falls asleep right away anyway.


She STTN last night (well, almost to the alarm . . . 5:50 a.m.), yay. Her sleep schedule got pushed back 2 hours this past weekend when we had sitters both nights, thank goodness. Please keep it this way, baby! This is all Mommy asks!
PG - no, 5.5 months is about when Daisy started to get it badly.

She''s still terrible, in fact we are seeing a child development specialist about it as it''s so bad - I came home last Tuesday to find DH in tears as she had screamed all evening until I walked through the door.

I can send her to nursery or get a babysitter other than DH or my long-suffering BIL, as they make you come and get them if they cry more than 30 minutes and madam can easily do a couple of hours.

So far the specialist has said that she notices that Daisy is extremely sociable, happy, extroverted and confident as long as you don''t pick her up or get into her personal space and that her personal space seems to be a lot bigger than most childrens. She also thinks that she is extremely stubborn and determined.

I felt a lot better when she said that we hadn''t done anything wrong and the fact that we co-sleep, baby wear and that I never let her cry for more than a few minutes has probably helped. They''re going to try various things next week to see if they help, but we probably just need to wait for her to grow out of it.
 
Is it separation anxiety if she/he only wants to be held by YOU? Piper will not tolerate going to anyone else. If she''s in someone else''s arms she needs me to be beside her every time otherwise we get the hiccuping sobs!
 
Amber sounds like it....
 
CC trust me i am not the type to be offended at all typically because it's diff strokes for diff folks for sure when it comes to what people do. btw i did read about some type of swaddle where people were somehow knotting the swaddle behind the kid's back and a few comments were like 'wouldn't that HURT?'...so you never know what people do, i guess.

HH i totally love sarcastic and funny...but using terms like abusive when it was just implied we'd do something to our son illegally wasn't funny to me. i guess i missed the humor, maybe i need more chocolate.

re: tying the kid's legs up to keep him from jumping out of the crib. honestly if the ONLY two options were (a) my kid jumps out of the crib and possibly breaks a leg or his neck or (b) i truss his legs up in some unique manner to keep him in the crib... umm i would choose option B.
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thankfully i think there are other ways to keep them in the crib, don't they have crib nets of some type??

ditto whoever said phrasing is important when dealing with sleep deprived moms lol!

soooo...what do ya'll think of the 'child leashes'... ?
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Date: 4/20/2010 6:44:21 PM
Author: Mara
CC trust me i am not the type to be offended at all typically because it''s diff strokes for diff folks for sure when it comes to what people do. btw i did read about some type of swaddle where people were somehow knotting the swaddle behind the kid''s back and a few comments were like ''wouldn''t that HURT?''...so you never know what people do, i guess.


HH i totally love sarcastic and funny...but using terms like abusive when it was just implied we''d do something to our son illegally wasn''t funny to me. i guess i missed the humor, maybe i need more chocolate.


re: tying the kid''s legs up to keep him from jumping out of the crib. honestly if the ONLY two options were (a) my kid jumps out of the crib and possibly breaks a leg or his neck or (b) i truss his legs up in some unique manner to keep him in the crib... umm i would choose option B.
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thankfully i think there are other ways to keep them in the crib, don''t they have crib nets of some type??


ditto whoever said phrasing is important when dealing with sleep deprived moms lol!


soooo...what do ya''ll think of the ''child leashes''... ?
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No worries Mara, the day will come when I''ll be in your place and god help someone who rubs me the wrong way....

Re: child leashes. I''m actually pro. DH is con, he says he''d rather use a cattle prod or a taser
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That was a joke, he would never do this.
 
Tao: Bummer!

Re: child harnesses/backpacks, ask me in three years when we're at Disneyland!
 
Ugh, is this week over yet?

Most of you saw on fb that I had to take Jacks to the ER yesterday for an allergic reaction. He got red all over, and his face got really swollen and totally red, and he was crying so hard that I couldn''t tell if he was possibly having trouble breathing, and although I gave him benadryl it didn''t seem to be helping so we went in to the ER. They waited till he could have more benadryl and also gave him a steroid, and at that point he was already starting to look better. By the time we got home, the hives were practically gone, and he sttn and woke up this morning like nothing had happened. It was so scary and exhausting though.

My dh has been working nights and then sleeping all day, and I''m just exhausted. He came home from work at 2 AM last night, and because I kept expecting Jacks to wake up and need more medicine, I was keyed up to every little sound, and even though he never woke up, I ended up being not able to fall back to sleep.

His hand, foot, and mouth disease is getting better I think though.

Also, feeding has become a test of patience. He is pretty much done with purees and just wants finger foods, but he''s not that coordinated yet so he can''t really feed himself, but he gets frustrated when I try to help him. Then he gets frustrated because he''s hungry and nothing is in his mouth. Then he throws everything on the floor. Sigh.

And finally, he has insane separation anxiety at times. Dh was actually home today, but he had to study so I took Jacks out for most of the afternoon. I got home and dh said he would put Jacks to bed so I could lay down and relax. Jacks SCREAMED through his whole bath and bedtime routine, so there was no relaxing for me. He stopped as soon as I would go pick him up, but started again as soon as I put him down.

For those who asked about separation anxiety, ours just started recently (he''s 8.5 months). He''s still ok if I''m not around, but if he knows I''m there and he wants me, he''ll scream until I''m holding him. During the day, for the most part he''s still fine playing on his own or with me on the floor with him, but nap and bedtimes have become a struggle again.

As for the swaddle, I used the A and A blankets pretty successfully, but I''m still glad we weaned from the swaddle at the same time as sleep training so there wasn''t a long "breaking the swaddle" process. I still laugh when I look back at his pics from months 1-3.5 because 99% of them, he''s swaddled.
 
Date: 4/20/2010 6:31:33 PM
Author: AmberWaves
Is it separation anxiety if she/he only wants to be held by YOU? Piper will not tolerate going to anyone else. If she''s in someone else''s arms she needs me to be beside her every time otherwise we get the hiccuping sobs!
It can be you and your DH, doesn''t have to be JUST you.

I can''t even be there - if anyone picks Daisy up she goes nuts, but will happily smile at them from the ground, the stroller, my arms etc. Last week she was playing in the sitting room with my cleaning lady, who she has known since she was born - I could hear her happy and laughing and then these enormous screams and sobs... I knew instantly that my cleaner had picked her up. She was inconsolable till I took her.

Sabine, I hope Jacks separation anxiety doesn''t last long - and that the H, F & M also goes - you''ve been having a tough time of it.
 
Thanks for the nice comments about the c-dawg. We think he's just the cutest thing ever.

Amber - I swaddled and crate trained! Calvin wasn't a huge fan of the crate at first, but he got used to it. hahahaha. Anyhoodle - have you tried to send Paul in to comfort her on one of her wake ups? At five months she shouldn't need the feed, at least not for nutrition sake...so maybe she'd chill for your DH? Just a thought.

Sha - Calvin's bedtime routine starts at 6:30. Bath, massage and DH gives him a bottle of expressed bm. He's down by 7:00 most nights. And sexytime. Oi. ONE TIME since we had Calvin. ONCE. And it was enjoyable and fine...but I swear, the BFing just killed any sex drive I had...as for birth control...I got the Mirena in at my 6 week visit. SO far, so good on that one.

Sabine - UGH for you on all counts. What a craptastic bunch of circumstances. I hope things smooth out soon!

Viz - Hope your little guy is feeling better! Croup stinks. And don't worry about the amount of sleep...Calvin was the antinapper for a good part of his young life...he slept really well at night, but would take 20-30 minute naps at most. He never got the recommended amount of sleep. Or even close. But he was happy and healthy and our doc told us not to worry about it at all.

So Cal & Anchor - I hear you on the wanting to wean. Calvin is 7 and 1/2 months and I really want to wean him, I think. But he hasn't had formula since he was like 2 weeks old and I know it is going to be such a pain to transition him to it...and all the bottles and cleaning and UGH. In some ways, BFing is so easy...I don't know. Let me know what you decide to do and how it goes. Blergh. I just don't know what to do.

Mara - Calvin is a very good self soother and he still uses a paci...but only at night or for naps. He's pretty consistent with it. Of course, we have four of them in his crib, so I think he kind of enjoys searching around seeing which one he ends up with...never the same one he went to sleep with. I'm sure you've already said, but where are you going in hawaii?

Mandy - YAY for negative! Although you'd be my hero with twin one year olds and a newborn. GAH!

Separation Anxiety - Calvin doesn't have it. At all. He's 7 and 1/2 months and he likes just about everyone. If someone else is holding him, he'll look for me, but frankly, he doesn't really get upset if I'm not in sight. It may be because we have a bunch of family close by and he's gotten comfortable with a lot of different people...

PG - Calvin cries before I put him down for a nap, when I get out the grobag and turn on the sound machine, but I always thought it was because he just doesn't want to go down...too many fun things to see and do and eat.

And just wanted to DITTO what CC said about the whole judgment thing...and add that for the most part, this thread has been really good about it (most recent FF/BF discussion notwithstanding). There are a lot of places where snarkiness is awesome and warranted, but here, not so much. We are all trying to do the best for our kids and families...and well, snarky isn't the best fit sometimes...KWIM?
 
i ditto what cc said (how was the wedding by the way?) - and, in general, i think the regular posters get that about each other. and we ARE very supportive of one another.
(don't shoot me) it *seems* that some things veer off course when a "non regular" posts??? - not that that should hinder anyone from posting, but since we don't know their particular nuances yet, then it can come off wonky...???

but i heart this thread and don't know who i would bi*ch to if it wasn't here. i *think* the majority of us know that we are using this thread to vent, get information, help a sister out AND have an adult debate if need be. i hope no one takes too much offense to a healthy discussion.

FWIW i totally crate trained my dog....
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sabine - i feel for you girl!!! i couldn't do this thing without DH - as much as we get on each other's nerves - it's nice having him around. ((HUGS))!!
 
Thank you everyone for your support. I''ve taken my decision. Jacob had another meltdown tonight and took 7oz with the bottle. I called my mom and started tp to cry... So there was my answer. If BFing is making me cry, then I shouldn''t do it. J is probably picking up on my stress and that probably contributes to the meltdowns, so talk about a vicious circle... So I''m starting to wean him when he hits 4 months on the 29th.
 
re: separation anxiety - any thoughts on if it is better or worse if the kid is in daycare? i ask b/c that might be the last straw for me on the whole "working mom" thing - particularly if c goes thru this anytime soon.
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i know it''s inevitable at some point, but i thought one of the "bonuses" of daycare was possibly a lesser degree of separation anxiety.

p.s. and yes, you should have read "bonuses" with a hint of sarcasm
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Date: 4/20/2010 8:35:14 PM
Author: anchor31
Thank you everyone for your support. I''ve taken my decision. Jacob had another meltdown tonight and took 7oz with the bottle. I called my mom and started tp to cry... So there was my answer. If BFing is making me cry, then I shouldn''t do it. J is probably picking up on my stress and that probably contributes to the meltdowns, so talk about a vicious circle... So I''m starting to wean him when he hits 4 months on the 29th.

anchor - please don''t beat yourself up (it sound like you not tho, awesome!) i can go back and find some of my old posts when c refused me after surgery. it broke my heart! i felt like he didn''t "need" me anymore.
but after i got over it, it was nice to let that guilt/worry/anxiety go..... not that c still doesn''t have his moments when he won''t eat from the bottle, but i truly believe a happy mom=happy baby :) ((hugs)) to you!
 
Ditto and Thritto what China and Viz said!!!!

Anchor I had other issues when I attempted to BF...but my main reason for quitting was because it made me cry. Like a LOT. At the end of the day I felt like it came down to what I thought the babies REALLY needed: BM or a happy/healthy mommy. I chose the latter. It sounds like you are going throguh something somewhat similar and I just wanted to let you know that as soon as my decision was "made", the fog lifted.

Separation anxiety it''s one of the reasons I give the babies to ANYONE that wants to hold them (obviously not to a stranger on the street, but you know what I mean). I want them to know it''s ok to be with other people, be held, etc. I know that may not prevent separation anxiety...but I''m hoping that maybe it helps a little!. But as with everything: IT DEPENDS ON THE BABY!>

See? you guys have me here to tell you scientifically that it depends on the baby!...hehehe. I''m like the control group! haha. I have two babies with identical DNA and being raised the same and with equal amounts of love, etc. Well, Alex is MUCH more independent. Lucas loves to snuggle, to touch/feel, etc. Alex wants to see everything and analyze everything. Lucas needs to touch everything and feel it. If I leave the room, Alex follows me with his eyes like a hawk, but he doesn''t cry. Lucas sees that I''m leaving and gets upset.
 
Mara- I wasn't really referring to you, more just all of us in general. You generally aren't someone I find to be too sensitive. And I mean that in a good way, not a sarcastic way- you seem to have a thick skin most of the time.

Separation anxiety- no sign of it yet. Every once in awhile he'll cry unless I hold him but it hasn't really risen to the level of separation anxiety. Not sure if he's just super independent or if it hasn't hit him yet. He's also had a nanny since he was 3/4 months and a babysitter since he was little. I am sure it will hit him tomorrow now that I've said that.
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Anchor- Hugs to you and be proud that you made it to 4 months!!!! It's hard hard hard. Only you know what you need to do, so trust yourself.

Viz- The wedding was fantastic, thanks for asking!

And there might be good news on the job front.

But EXHAUSTED right now, going to bed. Will try to catch up tomorrow.

ETA: SABINE. Hoping things clear up and you get a break SOON. Ugh, sounds miserable and exhausting. Poor Jacks. Poor you.
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lol so i have to post this pic i got of J today...my little tortured swaddler. i just love how in some pics he looks totally diff than other pics! his hair has a little fluff curl to it today because we didn''t put his hat on after his bath last nite. anyway greg is calling him Bruiser the Baby since he''s getting so giant HAHA and he has these big hamhock fists. i like that he looks more ethnic with his little curl in his hair!

anchor, good for you for going 4 months..! that is my goal, i wanted to go 6 but then i dropped it to 4 after all the issues, but once i get to 4 i figure i will re-eval and see, esp with work and all that.

viz, re: feeling rejected, i can see that for sure, even if it''s not the case, us moms like to give extra emotions to it all yanno. the kid is like ''just feed me ok'' hehee. i only feed J once a day off the boob and pump 2x but when i think about giving up that 1x i feel kind of sad.

sabine, you poor thing and poor Jacks!! i hope you guys catch a break soon and that he feels better EXTREMELY soon! hang in there.

china, can''t wait to hear potentially positive job news. oh and re : swaddling, my friend who gave us the MB told us that her friend thought for the first 3 months that her baby didn''t even HAVE arms lol. and she showed me a pic of him and it looked like he didnt have LEGS either because he liked them frog legged. so funny.

_____

so i think J may be starting teething. i know it''s early but he has been stuffing his entire fist in his mouth and he''s BITING on it, not just sucking it. it comes out all red. and he will be doing this and then suddenly start crying and then stop a minute later. also he''s drooling a lot. my friend''s daughter started doing this at 2.5 months and now she is 4.5 months and her first tooth is breaking through. anyway, poor kiddo! does anyone know if there is a natural numbing cream you''d recommend that i can use in place of the old school Orajel?

jbruiserbaby.jpg
 
Yay, I am finally here to join you ladies! Micah is over a week old but he arrived safe and sound on 4/9/10 at 11:01pm (just short of my mom''s bday!) weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces and 21 inches long. Here is a really bad cellphone pic of him hours after he arrived. He''s so alert all the time - if he isn''t being fed or changed, he is sitting quietly, just looking around. He''s such a good baby.

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Mara, try Hyland''s Teething Tablets, I never got anywhere with the gel other than D wanting to eat the stuff! It seems like they start teething a few months before the teeth come in and pain is worse when teeth are still deep down. Daisy started teething around 12 weeks and first teeth at 6 months. They get super-drooly too - I was getting through 5 or 6 bibs a day - if it gets too wet under their chins they can get nasty rashes so worth putting on a good barrier cream.

Viz - I don''t think daycare or no daycare makes a huge amount of difference. I left Daisy with people all the time when she was little and anyone could hold her - then at 5 months she stopped being okay with it and it''s got progressively worse.
 
Congratulations MP! I just read your birth story and you deserve an award!! He''s beautiful! Feel free to jump in whenever/wherever. This is a very helpful community
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Mara-Don''t know about any creams besides orajel. I wouldn''t recommend one anyway for J''s age because of the numbing. You risk him choking on his saliva since they don''t really understand how to spit when they have too much saliva. But ditto on the hyland''s teething tablets. You can find them either at BRU, Target, or Walmart. Sophia started teething at 3 months but didn''t cut a tooth until 7 months. I don''t know how J will do with them directly in his mouth, Sophia used to just push them out so I would crush 2-4 and mix in her bottle. They dissolve right away so if he doesn''t push them out then you can place under the tongue.
 
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congrats MP< he''s gorgeous, and you are quite a trooper!!!!
 
Congrats MP!!!! What a perfect little face :) Just gorgeous!!!

I just thought I would warn you that there is something called the "2 week babymoon". I thought my babies got abducted and switched because all of the sudden they weren''t the same babies! and nobody warned me!. Hopefully Micah (LOVE the name!) doesn''t go through this, but I felt like I should warn you...hehe
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Thanks viz, mandy and mara. I''m okay with my decision because at least I tried to get through it. But since last week, feeding on demand results in a refusal of the boob before bed and a major meltdown and he won''t go to sleep because he''s hungry, and nursing every two hours is so exhausting it''s not something I can keep doing in the long-term. viz - I went through the "he''s rejecting me" thing last week when we had to give him formula one night, so I get what you mean. I have less milk in the evenings and letdown takes longer, so I think it''s more like "I''m too tired and too hungry to have to work 5 minutes to get an ounce or two, so give me da bottle!". And I can understand that, poor thing. mandy - "happy mom = happy baby is what I''ve been telling myself too. All the stress and anxiety can''t be good for him, so right now it feels like the benefits of BFing are outweighed by it all. I''ll try to see if I can pump a few times a day and keep giving him the odd BM bottle here and there, but I usually can''t pump more than 3oz a session, so I''m not counting on that for very long. mara - I think a 4-months goal, then working your way up, is a very good way to look at it! Way to go, I hope the 3-months growth spurt is kinder on you!

J is still sleeping so I''ll go pump. I''ll probably be back later to catch up.
 
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